$(function(){ $('.old-value').text( $('input').val() ); // get the input value $('input').val('changed input value'); // set the input value $('.click').click(function() { $('.old-value').text( $('input').val() ); }); });
<div class="well"> <span class="click">get value</span> <input type="text" value="input value"> <span class="old-value"></span> </div>
.click { border-bottom: 1px dashed #555; cursor: pointer; }